Rovanpera claimed a ninth profession WRC victory in Portugal and his first of the season after dominating the tough gravel rally to defeat Hyundai’s Sordo by 54.7s.

The triumph was the reigning world champion’s first win since sealing the 2022 title at Rally New Zealand final October.

After changing a troublesome street place into 10.8s lead on the finish of Friday, Rovanpera received 5 of seven levels on Saturday, together with a shocking effort on stage 9 the place he was 12.8s sooner than anybody else.

Sordo admitted that he felt helpless at instances through the essential section of the rally.

“You’re feeling such as you’re driving an R5 automotive, in a distinct class,” mentioned Sordo when requested for this ideas upon seeing the time.

“We all know he drives very effectively and has an enormous expertise. He already did it final 12 months.

“We all know he can all the time go a bit of bit extra and he can go ‘ciao bang’ [and there is the time].”

Sordo’s Hyundai team-mate Esapekka Lappi, who completed third general, added: “Once I completed the stage it left like, as I mentioned within the interview on the stage, horrible with no grip.

“The time was fairly okay at that second – after which he got here and I mentioned to my co-driver it felt horrible and that was the reality.

Podium: Winner Kalle Rovanperä, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, second place Dani Sordo, Candido Carrera, Hyundai World Rally Group Hyundai i20 N Rally1, third place Esapekka Lappi, Janne Ferm, Hyundai World Rally Group Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Picture by: Austral / Hyundai Motorsport

“We may see that the hole was enormous. However it’s all the time these kind of issues occur.

“He’s simply beating us one second per kilometre simply reveals how good he’s and we simply can not do it the identical manner.”

Reflecting on his finest end result to this point driving a Rally1 automotive, Sordo was happy with the rostrum which he devoted to his late team-mate Craig Breen.

“The sensation could be very effectively,” he added. “Saturday morning, I used to be shedding a bit of little bit of time and I make a small mistake at a hairpin and lose time there. However, within the afternoon, we pushed extra and it was a lot better. I may be completely happy for the weekend.

“I need to say because of Craig [Breen] as a result of he was with me for the entire rally and pushing me to the boundaries.”

Sordo is ready to pilot Hyundai’s third i20 N on the subsequent spherical of the championship in Sardinia from 1-4 June. The 40-year-old’s programme after that occasion is but to be decided whereas Hyundai assesses its choices to fill the spot in its driver-line up left by Breen’s demise.